RAK ON: Love At First Bite
Dr. Rak ("rock") here.
Yesterday I hosted a monthly cook-along as part of my Mindful Meals cooking series. This one was extra special because I cooked with my mom, as we are visiting my parents. She and I adapted her recipes (the full recipe booklet is linked here as a special gift to my newsletter subscribers). It was remarkable to see how our culinary journey had evolved together, and the experience reinforced how food is a powerful symbol of love and connection.
During the class, I reflected on how my mom nurtured my love of food and cooking at a young age. She would take me grocery shopping after school where she taught me how to pick out ripe fruits. At home, I would help her in the kitchen, where she instilled in me a deep appreciation for the joy of home cooking. My mom taught me that food was not just sustenance but a way to express love and care.
About eight years ago, I learned that while food can be a source of love, it can also be a source of harm. I received a health scare when I was diagnosed with high blood pressure, prediabetes, and high cholesterol, largely due to my lifestyle, with my diet being the biggest driver.
Thankfully, I learned about the miraculous health benefits of plant-based eating and concluded this was the way to go. But getting there was a different story. To help with my transition to plant-based eating, I signed up for a three-week plant-based challenge sponsored by the hospital I was working at.
During that challenge, my parents came to visit from Chicago, and my mom made her beloved chicken curry, which ordinarily I would have gobbled up.
But I didn’t eat any, and this made my mom really sad. For her, her chicken curry was love, and she showed me love. And I could tell she felt like she was losing this connection she had with me.
Luckily, my mom makes excellent plant-based Indian food—like the chole (chickpea) masala we made during the cook-along. Now, when we see each other, she still loves to feed me, and I still feel her love through food, albeit different food.
So, let's RAK Our Week by remembering that food is a powerful symbol of love and connection. Whether we're sharing a meal with family, friends, or even strangers, let's embrace the opportunity to create new traditions and deepen our bonds with those we care about.
Roots Reflection 🌳:
Think about a food tradition from your past that brought you joy. How can you adapt it to fit your current lifestyle while preserving its essence? Reflect on how food has been a symbol of love in your life and how you can continue this tradition in a healthier way.
Awareness Action 🧘🏾:
Spend some time journaling or meditating on your relationship with food. Reflect on how it has shaped your connections with others and how you can create new, healthier traditions.
Kindness Opportunity 💖:
Cook a meal that brings back fond memories but with a twist that aligns with your current dietary needs or preferences. Share it with someone you love, invite them over, or deliver it to a friend or neighbor. Use this opportunity to share stories and create new memories together.
The Health Feast Corner 🎧
If you’ve been enjoying The Health Feast, please do us a favor by subscribing to the podcast on your favorite platform (Apple Podcasts, Spotify) and leaving a review. Your support is much appreciated!
Episode 33: Unleash Your Inner Joy with Charles Inniss, Optimism and Mental Wellness Coach. Join Dr. Rak and Po on The Health Feast as they welcome Charles Inniss, a certified health and wellness coach with a doctorate in physical therapy from Boston University, for one of their most insightful and impactful episodes yet. Charles delves into the power of mindset and shares practical tips and daily mental workouts to foster optimism and transform stress into joy. The conversation explores finding meaning in work, enhancing self-awareness, and building resilience through gratitude and self-compassion. Packed with actionable advice and personal anecdotes, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to live a more fulfilling and joyful life. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Substack | YouTube
Episode 32: Plant-Based Power to the People with Jill and Jeffrey Dalton. Dr. Rak and Po are thrilled to welcome Jill and Jeffrey Dalton from The Whole Food Plant-Based Cooking Show. With nearly 400,000 YouTube subscribers and two bestselling cookbooks, the Daltons have been transforming kitchens and lives for nine years with their delicious plant-based recipes. In this episode, they share their journey from facing significant health challenges to embracing a whole-food, plant-based diet. They discuss their adventurous move to New Zealand, their dietary experiments, and the pivotal moment they discovered Dr. Fuhrman's "Eat to Live." The Daltons offer practical tips for making plant-based eating accessible and enjoyable, emphasizing the importance of involving kids in cooking. They also explore how their Bahá'í faith influences their commitment to service, community, and integrity. This inspiring conversation is packed with heartfelt stories and practical advice, perfect for anyone looking to embrace a healthier, plant-based lifestyle. Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Substack | YouTube
Want to level up your health journey? Join Dr. Rak and the supportive community of RAK Your Life.
Join a RYL Tribe, where community, support, and accountability are key to transformation in these weekly health education groups.
Our Plant-Based Tribe meets on Monday evenings at 430pm PST/ 730pm EST (only 4 spots left!)
Our Heart Health Tribe meets on Wednesdays at 1 pm PST / 4 pm EST (only 5 spots left!). More details can be found here.
Our Mens Peak Tribe meets on Wednesdays at 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST (only 3 spots left!). More details can be found here.
You can also work with Dr. Rak individually for 1:1 medical care and get a Lifestyle Medicine doctor on your side to help oversee your care, reverse chronic diseases, and optimize your health and longevity.
You can attend a free discovery call with Dr. Rak so he can learn about your goals and how to best serve you. Sign up for your discovery call with Dr. Rak here and learn more on the RAK Your Life website.
Thanks for walking this path with me. I always look forward to hearing your stories and insights, so feel free to hit reply or join the RAK ON chat and share a bit of your world. Or pass this message along to someone who could use a boost of Reflection, Awareness, and Kindness in their life.
Live Well and RAK ON,
Dr. Rak 👊🏽